Archive for the 'Software' Category

A quick search on the Internet shows that the use of game consoles in physical education classes is becoming popular in various countries. Many times it is reported that the Wii game console and others like Xbox Kinect and Playstation Move are used to bring inactive students into ‘virtual PE’. In a programme which will be held at St Ignatius boys secondary, Wii Sport will be used to introduce various sports to students. Other games may be also be used in class such as Wii Dance or Wii Fit. A Wii console is already available in each Maltese college. The following are articles showing how sports may be practiced through game consoles;

Teachers and students may create a free account on www.sumdog.com This will allow them to access various online mathematics games which are designed to improve students’ numeracy skills.

The Sumdog.com maths games website is designed to help students practice mathematics in an enjoyable way. This website provides free access for teachers and students to various online mathematics games which are designed to improve students’ numeracy skills.

When subscribing to this service, students may customise their profile picture, choose a level and thus be able to play games according to their abilities. Students may access 100 numeracy topics, split into 10 levels. Most games are multiplayer, so students can play against thousands of students worldwide. Moreover through the free login, students can track their progress through Sumdog’s games. Through the free subscription, teachers can create logins for their students and set challenges and competitions for them;

Competitions generate a leaderboard for students. These allow them to play the maths games against each other or against any logged in students.

Challenges let teachers to set goals for students. Such challenges may include getting a set number of answers right or winning a number of these online games related to a particular topic.

If teachers buy a subscription, they will also be able to track their students’ progress. Whichever subscription is chosen (free or not), teachers can specify which topics the students will be working on, which games they can play, and when such activity starts and finishes.

Create your own 3-D cartoon by logging in www.xtranormal.com. This is a very easy to use online tool which allows you to write your own script and direct the action you want to unfold in your movie! There are various options to choose from such as characthers, camera positioning or facial expressions.

Such a tool may have useful applications when utilised in the learning environment. For example, the teacher may prepare videos for his own students to see in class or to revise specific themes at home. Else the students may be urged to create their own videos to present a topic which they researched themselves.

Do you have any other ideas how this tool may be used? Email me at keith.a.aquilina@gov.mt

With Scratch you can ‘create your own interactive stories, animations, games, music and art – and share your creations on the web’. Thus students with the help of their teachers may design such creations. Students may also be involved in activities involving digital files created with this free software.

Fate of the World is a new strategy game for PC which puts the future of the world in your hands. Starting off in the year 2020, when natural disasters due to climate change start to hit, you, as a newly appointed leader have been given the arduous task to deal with this extreme situation by using your strategic skills.

Fate of the World Screenshot

In game features include:

Achievements

Combines latest science with challenging game play

Save the world, or destroy it!

Challenging regional missions for you to complete, and global sandbox.

Guide 12 world regions

Shape the next 200 years and see your decisions unfold on a realistic Earth

Fate of the World is being made by the team behind the Red Redemption series and the producer of Battlestations: Midway, Klaude Thomas – the climate science in the game is being taken care of by Dr Myles Allen (University of Oxford).